Like punk rock, saturday night live sought to cut through the bloated malaise of 70s pop culture by returning to the raucous, livewire energy of its mediums early days. Live from new york the complete, uncensored history of saturday night live as told by its stars, writers, and guests book. Oct 09, 2002 live from new york by tom shales and james andrew miller a new book about saturday night live dishes the backstage dirt on sex, drugs and fistfights, but lacks the guts to ask if the show. Its hard to believe that professional entertainers could have put together a show less entertaining than this years oscars, hosted with a smug humorlessness by comic jon stewart, a sad and pale shadow of great hosts gone by. May 20, 2011 the excerpts that have leaked so far have been fantastic, and i bet world of espn is going to be just as good as shales and millers last work, live from new york, a book that managed to get. Downey has written for over 30 seasons of saturday night live. I first read saturday night when it came out in the mid1980s, and it still remains one of the best snlrelated books tom shales work is right there, too. Tom shales and james andrew miller wrote one of my favorite tv books ever, live from new york. Shales has published four books, including two he cowrote with james andrew miller. Journalist james andrew miller and television critic tom shales compiled the definitive oral history of saturday night live in 2002, a book that was nothing short of a masters program in comedy, writing and stagecraft, as well as the business of tv.
Saturday night live, oral history, live from new york by james andrew miller and tom shales will include 200 extra pages of material to the original 2002 book. They raucously and revealingly take the snl story up to the present, adding a constellation of iconic new stars, surprises, and controversies. Live from new york audiobook by james andrew miller, tom. The saturday night live sketch president obama put the kibosh. Also like many of the punks, snl has hung around long enough to become what it. Snl book excerpt, updated for shows 40th anniversary as.
The excerpts that have leaked so far have been fantastic, and i bet world of espn is going to be just as good as shales and millers last work, live from new york, a. It began, in 1979, as a mad idea of starting a cable channel to televise local sporting events throughout the state of connecticut. Live from new york by tom shales and james andrew miller. Palin hated looking dumb on snl, doesnt mind the rest of the. Writers, and guests by tom shales and james andrew miller. An uncensored history of saturday night live, as told by its stars, writers and guests. Read some new excerpts from the updated live from new york. Those guys have all the fun, the larry sanders show 1992 and frontline 1983. Live from new york tom shales saturday night live nbc scribd. Theyre coming up with a replacement cast for saturday night live and we think youd be perfect.
James andrew miller and tom shales s definitive oral history of saturday night live, hailed as incredible vulture and required reading people. Tom shales books list of books by author tom shales. In 2002, shales and miller published live from new york. Book excerpt and interview from live from new york, which recaps 40 years of saturday night live, by tom shales and james miller. Live from new york audiobook james andrew miller, tom shales.
You re only working with if you count the money at the end of the night. The new and extended version of tom shales and james millers snl oral history book live from new york isnt out until september 9th, but in the meantime thr has released a few exclusive excerpts. Unfortunately, shales and millers technique falls flat when it comes to the history of espn. An uncensored history of saturday night live by tom shales and james andrew miller the rumors are true. In that work, they interviewed hundreds of men and women associated with snl to serve as the backbone to the book. Like punk rock, saturday night live sought to cut through the bloated malaise. Aug 20, 2014 according to excerpts published in the aug. James andrew miller and tom shales collaborated in 2002 to write a history of nbcs longrunning latenight show, saturday night live snl. Live from new york tom shales free ebook download as pdf file. The complete uncensored history of saturday night live as told by its stars, writers, and guests 2nd ed. Thomas augustine shale 10 september 1864 in bilston, staffordshire 24 june 1953 in brighton, sussex was a british comic actor who appeared in vaudeville, theatre, pantomime and films during the late 19th and early 20th centuries making his first professional appearance in 1885, he was a regular in pantomime, playing buttons in cinderella and king stoneybrokish in jack and the. And now, i really wish i could see milton berles penis because im curious. When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of saturday night live, live from new york. Complete, uncensored history of saturday night live as told by its stars, writers, and guests 9780316295062.
The chronological narrative if you could call it that from idea conception to the present is told via bitesized quotes, a format. That book, a huge compilation of interviews with dozens of people tied to snl did a great job of detailing the creation, development, constant reinvention, and. An uncensored history of saturday night live, which covers the history of the sketchcomedy variety show, and provides a behindthescenes look at its stars and production process. Shales adds, it goes to prove that theres still a big. Washington post tv critic tom shales rips jon stewarts performance as host of the academy awards. Reviewed by nick marx when live from new york first arrived in 2002, the sprawling oral history of saturday. Friends with interests in those areas, or who were simply fans of snl, were lobbied hard by me to read it. A new book about saturday night live dishes the backstage dirt on sex, drugs and. The authors had a great deal of access to many of the major players, as well as the show itself, and it reads like the authoritative book that it is. How kristen wiigs emotional saturday night live farewell.
Tv critic tom shales, author of the book live from new york. Uncensored history of saturday night live as told by its stars, writers, and guests. An uncensored history of saturday night live, by tom shales and james andrew miller. In their own words, unfiltered and uncensored, a dazzl. In 2002, james andrew miller and tom shales released live from new york. I wanted to come on the show and counter some of that, palin tells authors tom shales and james. When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of saturday night live. For snl, that meant a return both to live performance and to the sketchintensive varietyshow format, two fixtures of televisions golden age.
James andrew miller and tom shaless definitive oral history of saturday night live, hailed as incredible vulture and required reading people. If you like oral histories or you like saturday night live, this is a must read. Live from new york audiobook james andrew miller, tom. Live from new york, a behindthescenes history of the saturday night live television series by james andrew miller and tom shales, was originally published in 2002. The saturday night live sketch president obama put the. For fans of the show both devoted and casual, the oral history was an. James woodward downey born 1952 is an american comedy writer and occasional actor. Or you could always tune in to nbc, live from new york, on saturday night at 11.
Read some new excerpts from the updated live from new york book. When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of saturday night live, live from new york was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on. The new and extended version of tom shales and james millers snl oral history book live from new york isnt out until september 9th, but in. If its anything like his last book live from new york. The complete, uncensored history of saturday night live as told by its stars, writers, and guests expanded, updated by shales, tom, miller, james andrew isbn. An uncensored history of saturday night live it should be a mortgagesaving. Written first for the 30th anniversary, then updated with an additional 100 pages for the last ten years.
Pulitzer prize winner tom shales on the moving documentary life itself two thumbs up directed by fellow chicagoan steve james hoop dreams, life itself is a worthy. With that, said authors james andrew miller and tom shales in their book, live from new york, ford began a new tradition of politicians joining in on the jokes, and presidential politics. An uncensored history of saturday night live, and those guys have all the fun. Now a fourth decade has passed and bestselling authors james andrew miller and tom shales have returned to studio 8h. Oct 22, 2010 tom shales threatens to leave the washington post. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Miller and tom shaless definitive oral history of saturday night live. Oct 15, 2014 thr has more excerpts from the new book available for avid snl fans. See all books authored by tom shales, including live from new york. Thr has more excerpts from the new book available for avid snl fans. A new edition of the classic saturday night live oral history, live from new york, by james andrew miller and his coauthor, pulitzer prizewinning washington post television critic tom shales on.
Miller and shales s oral history of snl is the closest you may ever get to studio 8h. When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of saturday night live, live from new york was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary latenight. That book, a huge compilation of interviews with dozens of people tied to snl did a great job of detailing the creation, development, constant reinvention, and gossip behind one of our most beloved and at times, reviled shows. Saturday night live book updated, excerpted for 40th anniversary. Live from new york by james andrew miller and tom shales. Read some new excerpts from the updated live from new york book the new and extended version of tom shales and james millers snl oral history book live from new york isnt out until. His column, shales on tv, appears in the paper every tuesday. Inside the world of espnby james andrew miller and tom shaleslittle, brown763 pp. His books include on the air and legends, and he has written for many major magazines. Articles by tom shales the washington post journalist. When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of saturday night live, live from new york was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary latenight show.
Journalist james andrew miller and television critic tom shales compiled the. But saturday night live, launched in 1975 and still thriving today, would change the. As those of you who read the cherry section know, i recently tore through live from new york, the oral history of saturday night live. Just in time for the 40th anniversary of saturday night live, a rollickingly updated edition of live from new york with nearly 100 new pages covering the past decade. In an excerpt from live from new york, tom shales and james. An uncensored history of saturday night live with tom shales of the washington post, little, brown, 2002, which spent 15 weeks on the new york times bestseller list and was chosen by fortune magazine as one of the top 75 books of all time to deal with workplace issues. Snl book excerpt, updated for shows 40th anniversary as it. Sep 28, 2014 snl book excerpt, updated for shows 40th anniversary as it rolls out vintage episodes, new team. Aug 16, 2012 james andrew miller and tom shales collaborated in 2002 to write a history of nbcs longrunning latenight show, saturday night live snl. The latest edition, released in 2014, was timed to coincide with the shows 40th anniversary and has been updated with coverage through the programs 39th season.
Thomas william shales born november 3, 1944 is an american writer and critic of television. More than a quartercentury after saturday night live premiered on nbc. Sep 28, 2014 book excerpt and interview from live from new york, which recaps 40 years of saturday night live, by tom shales and james miller. Pulitzer prize winner tom shales on the moving documentary life itself two thumbs up directed by fellow chicagoan steve james. Tom shales was born on november 3, 1944 in elgin, illinois, usa as thomas william shales. James andrew miller and tom shaless definitive oral history of saturday night live, hailed as incredible vulture and required reading people, rollickingly updated with nearly 100 new pages covering the decade since the books original. The first night i picked it up, i read almost three hundred pages at a shot, and i only closed the book when it started to. Mar 06, 2006 tom shales on jon stewart i dont think his shafting was deserved at all. Tom shales, the pulitzer prizewinning television critic who was forced out at the washington post in 2010 after 39 years, still takes every opportunity he can to bash the paper. Read some new excerpts from the updated live from new. Garry shandling was as kind and generous as he was funny and that is saying a lot. In the book, which you can currently read excerpts of. Live from new york the complete, uncensored history of saturday night live, as told by its stars, writers, and guests book.
Time and again on nbc post, april shales, the washington posts chief television critic for 30 years, is the author of several books, including on the air, legends and live from new york. Miller and shales have now published two fantastic oral histories together. Snl book excerpt, updated for shows 40th anniversary as it rolls out vintage episodes, new team. The snl skit obama killed, hillarys entitlement attitude. The book was rereleased in 2015 to coincide with saturday night lives 40th anniversary. Live from new york by tom shales and james andrew miller a new book about saturday night live dishes the backstage dirt on sex, drugs and fistfights, but lacks the guts to. Palin hated looking dumb on snl, doesnt mind the rest of.